Metallic seal



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. MCEVOY, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

METALLIC SEAL.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 24,041, dated May 17, 1859.

To all whom it ma/y concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. McEvoY, of Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented a new and Improved Seal for Sealing Money-Bags, Mail-Bags, Safes, &c.; and I do hereby de- Clare the following to be a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my improvement consists in constructing a metallic seal for sealing money bags, &c., of heavy sheet metal, and in a manner that will admit of its being readily and securely sealed, so that it cannot be opened without defacement, and of a form that will enable it to carry, concealed from the view, and protected from mutilation, or removal, a label of paper, or any similar material, on which a date,-the signature, or private mark of the person authorized to attach the said seal, may be written, the object and use of the label being to show conclusively that the seal was, or was not, attached by the person authorized to attach it, and thereby locate the responsibility in case of dereliction of duty, or fraud.

I will now proceed to describe it, reference being had to the drawings.

lFigure (l) is a side view of the seal, closed. Letter c shows the neck, or narrow part of the seal, which is intended to be passed through an opening in the article to be sealed, and fastened at a by eyelet B. Letter D showsa broad surface at one end of the seal, which when folded, 0r doubled forms a clamp or pocket in which the paper label is placed and the whole secured together at a, by eyelet B.

Fig. (2) shows an edge view of the seal, closed, showing also, the neck of the seal passing through two staples F, F at E, E, and fastened at a by eyelet B.

Fig. is an edge view of the seal, open.

Fig. (4:) is a .side view of the seal, open, showing at letter D the clamp or pocket before it is folded or doubled.

I have used an eyelet which is separate from the seal, but it may be made a part of the seal by raising it up or stamping on the metal; thus making it more compact.

I am aware that seals composed of wire and soft metal disks are now used. These n disks are struck with dies which generally bear the initials of the person authorized to use them, but they are always the same and not being in the handwriting of the person authorized t0 use them, any person having access to the dies might use, nor can they be changed without trouble and expense, whereas the use of a paper label enables a change of initial, signature or private mark to be made at pleasure. l

I do not use nor do I claim softmetal disks; but

What I do claim is- The use of a paper label, or its equivalent, in combination with a metallic seal substantially as and for the purpose specified.

CHARLES A. MCEVOY.

Witnesses:

I. P. DUVAL, E. PAYsoN REEVE, Trios. A. HOWARD. 

